Case Study: Connecticut Middle School Students and WeatherBug Schools® Gain Local Celebrity Status and Greater School Performance via Interactive, Standards-Based Program
LOLMS Goes One More Step — The Weather Forecast Challenge:
The students at LOLMS finish up
their weather study unit with the "WeatherBugŪ Forecast Challenge" competition,
created by Dr. Mel Goldstein,noted author, college professor and Chief Meteorologist
of WTNH-TV Storm Team 8 ABC Station. Affectionately known as "Dr. Mel",
Dr. Goldstein designed the Challenge to allow students to showcase all they've learned
about weather forecasting using mathematical estimations to create their own 24-hour
forecast. For three weeks the student's forecasts were mapped as each day they predicted
the following day's weather. At the end of the three weeks, the student with the
lowest score was declared the winner and presented with "tickets" that they could
redeem for extra credit on their next test.
Making a Difference at School, at Home and in the Community:
Team up with WeatherBug and everyone wins - the students, the teacher and the community. Since its inception in 1992, WeatherBug has collaborated to help build communities with area schools, local broadcasters, and emergency management agencies (such as the local sheriff's department, police department and fire department). Live weather conditions provide critical information to these organizations, enabling them to protect property and lives. The innovative, interactive WeatherBug Schools Program and the live WeatherBug data consistently educate and excite teachers, students, local broadcast partners and the community. The WeatherBug Community fosters relationships between local meteorologists, local schools and area viewers, helping families and businesses plan their day with confidence.
Lyme- Old Lyme Middle School is a designated emergency shelter - it has an emergency generator for use in hurricanes and power outages, or other disasters. Dave Fowler plans to link the WeatherBug Schools Program Tracking Station to the generator for use by the local fire department during emergencies. Such partnering between the school and community is of vital importance to the security of the town, and completes the circle of WeatherBug Achieve as a valuable community and school resource.
